BICSI and Cisco team up on training

The tie-up with BICSI will help to boost skills across the industry, says Beliveau-Dunn.

BICSI has announced a tie-up with Cisco, to work together on delivering education and training to their respective members and customers.

The industry association says that the partnership is a good fit, as Cisco provides training and certifications for the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model's network layer, whereas BICSI offers training courses and credentials for those who work in the OSI physical and data link layers.

Under the agreement, BICSI and Cisco will offer their training and certification programs to each other's customer and membership base, and individuals holding specific Cisco certifications will qualify for discounts on BICSI training courses, manuals and products.

Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, vice president and general manager, Learning@Cisco, said: "There are only a few areas in the economy where jobs and opportunities for employment are recession-proof, and the dynamic networking field is one of them. As we continue to see double-digit growth in the job market for network architects, engineers, technicians and security specialists, we are working with industry leaders to extend our reach into new communities to assist the growth of talent for the industry. Every major technology trend, including mobility, virtualization, cloud and video, relies on a highly secure, resilient network that is prepared to deliver these services.

"Cisco intends to meet this growth demand by helping prepare qualified individuals with the skills and experience to build, troubleshoot and repair these types of networks and infrastructure. By teaming with BICSI, we are able to help more aspiring networking professionals become engaged with this exciting industry and develop the skills to match changing business requirements and new job roles," he added.

Brian Hansen, BICSI President, RCDD, NTS, CSI, said: "This is a very important first step for BICSI and one that will bring new CEC opportunities for our credential holders. This is a huge benefit for those who are looking for more opportunities to get CECs without having to travel far distances. Cisco offers instructor-led training through authorized learning partners around the world, self-assessments, mobile learning and e-learning products, and this global, customized approach will help solidify BICSI's stance in getting CECs for our global community as well."